Chapter 160 - 162: Lord Astram

Words : 1671 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

"You're really gonna leave me here," she says, voice low, like saying it aloud makes it real. Alix turns to her, eyes gentle. He reaches out and rests a hand on her head, ruffling her hair slightly. "For now," he says quietly. "I still have something I need to do. Something I can't bring you into." Ruva's gaze drops. Her voice cracks just a little. "But what if you don't come back?" "I will," Alix says, firm. "I promise you, Ruva. Once I'm done... I'll come get you." She bites her lip, silent for a moment. Then—finally—she nods. Slowly. Alix reaches into his coat and pulls something out: a small, polished charm. A crescent-shaped stone woven with strands of silver thread and wrapped in pale ribbon. Alix kneels down to her level and presses it into her hands carefully. "Listen, Ruva," he says, voice low and serious. "If you ever find yourself in real danger—where you can't run, break this. Just snap it in two." Ruva stares at the charm, wide-eyed. Her fingers curl instinctively around it. "What... what will it do?" she asks, her voice trembling. Alix gives a small, reassuring smile. "It'll summon a beast. A beast, bound to the charm, will come to protect you. It won't stop until you're safe." Ruva's breath catches. She clutches the charm tighter, like it's the most precious thing in the world. "A real beast?" she whispers. "Stronger," Alix says softly. "This one's loyal to you. But you have to be careful. Only use it if it's truly life or death, understand?" Ruva nods furiously, her eyes shining again, though she blinks them dry. "I understand, Big Brother." Alix rises to his feet, resting a hand briefly on her head one last time. "You're brave, Ruva. Braver than most grown warriors I've met." His voice drops even lower, almost a whisper. "I'm proud of you." That's what finally breaks her. She throws her arms around him, clinging tight. Alix hesitates just a second, then wraps his arms around her in return. "You're not alone," he says. "Not ever." After a long moment, she pulls back, sniffing hard, and nods again. The elder of the Lamari steps forward, his expression kind but firm. "Come, child. You'll be safe here." Ruva hesitates, looking once more at Alix. He gives her a small smile and a nod. "Go on," he says. "I'll find you soon." With one last look, Ruva turns and walks toward the village elder. The Lamari close around her like a protective wall, guiding her inside. Alix watches until she disappears from sight. Then, without a word, he turns. Alix walks away from the village. He doesn't look back. Not until the last rooftop is hidden by the trees. Only then does he stop. A faint breeze stirs his cloak. Without hesitation, he gathers mana under his feet—light and force wrapping around him—and pushes off the ground. The world falls away beneath him. He soars up into the open sky, rising above the treetops, higher still until the village becomes a quiet mark on the land below. Up here, it's just him and the wind. Alix exhales slowly, letting the cold air clear his mind. His gaze drifts over the endless stretch of forest, the river winding like a silver thread, the mountains distant on the horizon. "She's strong," he mutters to himself, voice barely louder than the wind. "Stronger than I was at her age." For a moment, he closes his eyes. Memories—unwanted but familiar—flicker at the edges of his mind. A cold room. Empty streets. Silence. The loneliness that clung to him like a second skin when he was just a boy. No one to reach out a hand. No one to promise they'd come back. After a moment, he tilts forward, mana surging again. His figure cuts through the sky like a silent arrow, vanishing into the clouds. The clouds whip past him, mist clinging to his cloak as he flies. The land stretches out below like an endless patchwork—forests, rivers, valleys. Dotted across it, here and there, are villages and small towns. Alix slows slightly, gliding lower to get a better look. At first, he thinks he's just imagining it. But the closer he gets, the clearer it becomes. Every settlement he passes... every bustling street, every marketplace... They're all monsters. Wolf-headed beastkin laugh and haul crates. Tall, horned creatures haggle over fruit. Scaled merchants bark out deals, children with claws and wings dart between stalls. No humans. Not a single one. Alix narrows his eyes. He adjusts his flight, angling higher, letting the wind carry him. "Is this place... all monsters?" he mutters to himself. His voice gets lost in the rushing air, but the question hangs heavy in his mind. He flies further, scanning every town he passes. Still no humans. Not even half-bloods, from what he can tell. "I need to figure out where I am," Alix says. He pulls his hood a little lower over his face, shielding his features. "I need a real city," he decides aloud. "A place with information. Maps. Rumors." His mana flares again, subtle but strong, as he picks up speed. Somewhere out there, there's got to be a major city. A place big enough to answer the questions burning at the back of his mind. After some time, the sprawling outline of a city appears on the horizon. Tall stone walls gleam faintly under the sun, with wide gates flanked by towering statues of armored beasts. Smoke curls lazily from dozens of chimneys, and even from the sky, Alix can hear the muted clamor of life beyond the walls. "There," he mutters. A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. "Finally." He angles his descent, careful to land a good distance away. No need to attract attention. His boots hit the earth with a soft thud. Dust stirs at his feet. Pulling his cloak tighter around himself, Alix sets off toward the gates on foot. As he approaches, he falls in line behind a small crowd—beastfolk merchants hauling goods, heavily armored adventurers, a few caravan wagons creaking forward. When he reaches the front, a guard steps into his path. The guard is a hulking figure, scales glinting under battered armor. A long tail flicks lazily behind him, and a thick ledger is tucked under one arm. "Entrance fee," the guard grunts, voice rough. "Ten silver coins." Alix blinks, mildly surprised. Ten silvers? For entrance? Considering twenty silver coins make one gold, it's a heavy toll for common folk. But to him? It's nothing. Without a word, Alix reaches into his coat and pulls out a small pouch. He fishes out ten silver coins and drops them into the guard's outstretched hand. The coins jingle lightly, the sound sharp against the background noise. The guard raises an eyebrow but says nothing, only nodding once. "Behave yourself inside," he rumbles, stepping aside. "And don't cause trouble. Especially you outsiders." Alix gives a simple nod, his expression unreadable beneath his hood. "I'll keep that in mind," he says lightly, his tone polite but distant. The massive gates creak open just wide enough for him to slip through. And with that, Alix steps into the city—his first real foothold in this strange new land. Alix strides through the bustling streets, his sharp eyes scanning everything—the towering stone buildings, the market stalls crammed with strange goods, the mix of monsterfolk going about their day. If I want to get information quickly... he thinks, the Adventurers' Guild is my best bet. He blends into the flow of the crowd, moving with quiet purpose. It doesn't take long to find it—a wide, sturdy building with a heavy oak door, a faded banner above it bearing a sword and claw symbol intertwined. Pushing the door open, he steps inside. The inside of the guild is lively. Rough laughter and the clatter of mugs echo through the wide hall. Different kinds of monsters sit at long tables—horned, winged, scaled, furred—some in full armor, others dressed casually. A huge board at the far end is covered in papers: job requests, bounties, hunting missions. No one spares Alix more than a passing glance. Just another cloaked figure among many. He finds a corner table and settles down, letting the noisy atmosphere wash over him. A server—a slim, cat-eared girl—comes by with a worn notepad. "What'll you have?" she asks, flicking her tail lazily. "Something hot," Alix says. "And a drink." She nods and disappears into the crowd. Alix leans back, one arm draped casually over the back of his chair, listening. Before long, his food arrives—a steaming stew and a mug of something dark and strong-smelling. He's barely taken his first bite when a conversation from a nearby table catches his ear. "Hey, you hear about that new Tier 6?" one of the monsters says—a burly, lion-headed beastman, his voice carrying easily over the noise. "The one that's been challenging Lord Astram?" Alix stills, listening closely. "No way," another voice scoffs—this one sharper, belonging to a sleek, lizard-like creature. "Lord Astram's been leading this continent for almost fifty years now. Ain't nobody stupid enough to go picking a fight with him." "I'm serious!" the lion-man insists, thumping his mug down. "Word is, some unknown showed up outta nowhere. Kill two of Astram's subordinates already!" Across from him, a bat-winged woman whistles low. "If that's true... either that guy's got a death wish or he's the real deal." The lizard-man leans in, lowering his voice a little. "Tch. Doesn't matter. Lord Astram's a monster among monsters. Doesn't matter if you're Tier 6. You stand against him, you're dead." The group mutters agreement, though a few look uneasy.

Chapter 160 - 162: Lord Astram

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